Andy Burnham, MP for Leigh, has won the contest to become Labour Party candidate for Greater Manchester Mayor in 2017. He got 3,792 votes to beat off current interim GM Mayor Tony Lloyd (2,163 votes) and Ivan Lewis (1,472 votes).

On getting the nomination, Burnham said fighting inequality within Greater Manchester was the "defining mission of our times".

Andy Burnham was supported by Worsley and Eccles South MP Barbara Keeley, although Salford and Eccles MP Rebecca Long Bailey,Salford Mayor Paul Dennett and most of the Salford Labour Party backed Tony Lloyd. This afternoon, former Salford Council Leader, John Merry, tweeted his congratulations.

Tony Lloyd was heavily criticised in Salford and beyond for both his handling of the Barton Moss anti-fracking protests as Greater Manchester Police Commissioner, and for the undemocratic way that devolution was imposed on Greater Manchester without a referendum.

Andy Burnham, on the other hand, criticised the "Swiss cheese" NHS that could result from devolution, and came out against fracking during his campaign, telling theSalford Star, "My position would be to recommend a Greater Manchester-wide presumption of opposition to fracking unless and until the evidence changes. I have seen how states in the US such as New York have taken a stance against fracking and I think Greater Manchester should do the same.

"As Mayor, my focus would be on building the jobs of the future rather than the past" he added "Fracking for fossil fuels seems to me to belong to the last century, not this one, and does not produce the quality jobs in the numbers that some have claimed. Instead, I want a Greater Manchester that is building the future and leading the way on renewable energy. That is where our focus should lie."

"We need urgent action from our regional leaders to slash greenhouse gas emissions and clean up our badly polluted air" he explained "Andy Burnham and candidates for Greater Manchester Mayor from all parties must commit to policies for a low carbon, healthy and environmentally-just region - such as a home retrofit scheme, Clean Air Zones and going frack-free.

"We welcome the commitment Andy Burnham made of a presumption of opposition to fracking during the Labour candidacy contest, and call on all candidates to adopt a frack-free position and support for a thriving renewable energy industry in Greater Manchester" he added "The Greater Manchester Mayor will have to implement solutions to meet many social and environmental challenges. These include rising transport and energy costs, traffic congestion, ill health and rising obesity levels, poor air quality and the need to drastically reduce CO2 emissions."

North West UNISON also welcomed the selection...

"Andy is undoubtedly an excellent candidate for Mayor of Greater Manchester and we will be whole-heartedly supporting his election campaign" said UNISON North West Labour Link Officer, Lynne Morris "It is great for Greater Manchester that the mayoral role has attracted a candidate of Andy's calibre and experience.

"UNISON has a long-standing positive working relationship with Andy Burnham" she added "When he held the Health portfolio for Labour, Andy was always keen to hear about, and learn from, the experiences of our members delivering services in the NHS. UNISON will work with Andy as Mayor to ensure that the voices of public service workers across Greater Manchester are heard. We're looking forward to continuing our close working relationship with Andy as we support his campaign to become the city-region's first elected mayor."

Speaking on his nomination this morning, Andy Burnham talked about his focus being on "fighting inequality between Greater Manchester and the rest of the country, and within Greater Manchester..it is the defining mission of our times..."

The other Greater Manchester political parties have yet to announce their candidates...

* Main photo shows Andy Burnham winning the cup for Labour MPs against the press at Salford City FC's Moor Lane in 2012. Photo by Andrew Goudie

Labour splitter wroteat 09:54:16 on 13 August 2016

Wrong call pal. Labour splitter is Labour splitter. I've known old Felsie for years when he worked at Salford education. One thing for a fact is Felsie always did his research it's why labour hate his guts. They lost a good en when they expelled his likes. I suspect you are actually the old blogger David Cameron never did get yer fact right did thee old chum.

No more Felse wroteat 08:01:48 on 13 August 2016

I have decided that Michael Felse uses different email addresses to post. Labour Splitter is definitely him too, sad really.
He deflects from a lot of good stuff that the Star writes.

Labour splitter wroteat 17:24:51 on 12 August 2016

@wrote do not underestimate Mr Felse. I have been watching Felsie's cunning plan unfold. 120000 folk are on council house waiting lists. 8000 in each borough employed by councils is 80000. Each has a partner - doubles both those makes 400000. Add in the 7000 UKIP voters known in each of 10 boroughs making 70000 add 30000 (new ones plus from Labour defectors). Total Felsie target votes come to half a million. No wonder Labour is worried about the loud shouting from Mr Felse. The louder he shouts the more we listen. Felsie deserves to get to sit in the Captain's Chair rather than that Everton's supporter Burham or Tony Lloyd ever did (now sent off field by the split down middle labour party).

wroteat 15:36:33 on 12 August 2016

But will anyone take any notice of Mr. Felse's demands? I think they will simply ignore him.

Michael James Felse wroteat 09:50:34 on 12 August 2016

Wrote can see how many demands it will take to turn around our failed Labour Council. Each demand will be listed for the Mayor of Greater Manchester to action. Only then will there be any real chance of social and economic success, justice, security and us getting improvements instead of more Labour empty promises.

Gareth L wroteat 05:58:11 on 12 August 2016

Ahhh nostalgia, the old orange and black nets at Moor Lane.

wroteat 05:58:03 on 12 August 2016

Not another demand from MJF.

Michael James Felse wroteat 10:22:28 on 11 August 2016

I have read many comments following his selection. Funniest I saw was "can Manchester afford to build a big enough fence for Andy Burnham to sit on". What do they mean? Big worry is the Labour Party has gone into melt down, split it becomes not fit to lead Greater Manchester. Is it to be a Walter Mitty Mayor with cronies around a table? I demand a wider engagement. A GM-Mayor must listen to people but I fear the Labour cronies offer instead a self ticked sheet, like the BBC report about the failed Troubled Families Programme. My plan will guarantee best engagement. Yes, a pro-active Brexit approach putting the North of England Innovation PowerHouse on Chapel Street, bringing in 65,000 jobs, a 100% success in housing local people from housing lists, the best Education vocational opportunities with a raft of new investments such as a £20Million youth live music stage to fully capture Live Music World opportunities, millions into flood defense, public participation on Health and Social Care and active whistle-blower apps to eradicate estates of problem families by taking cars off Police and getting them back on the beat. The jobs boost means we need all Council workers to be skilled to a minimum Level 3 in Customer Services and a no redundancy policy in local government. No more softly softly days - just all common sense in listening to local people.

ben wroteat 16:01:27 on 10 August 2016

don't vote that's the best course of action here

Salford lad wroteat 13:58:46 on 10 August 2016

Tony Lloyd is just like our former Mayor Ian Stewart a fading politician who wants to top up his pension. His role as Police Crime Commissioner has been beset by cronyism where his mates such as Jim Battle have been given jobs and the majority of his ethics committee were seemingly personally selected. He has not held GMP to account for a single issue and even Emily's an ex Gmp worker as his spin doctor. Thank goodness he is going roll onBurnham.

Real Salford Lad wroteat 07:31:17 on 10 August 2016

Thank fook Tony Lloyd is not the candidate! Are we one step closer to a Public Enquiry about the events of Barton Moss, the first step on the journey to a Beacon Of Social Justice! What is Burnhams' professional opinion of Peel ? Could there be a review of the Labour Partys' dodgy working relationship with Peel Holdings ?